DEVELOPING: Houthis capture more territory near critical waterway
Houthi rebels are gaining ground in Yemen, capturing territory near the critical Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which funnels about 12% of the world's oil. The Houthis, backed by Iran, are also launching missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabian infrastructure. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues its economic sanctions and naval blockade against Iran, which has reportedly led to one Iranian cargo vessel being struck in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthi advances threaten global oil transit through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, potentially creating a bottleneck for world oil supplies. The ongoing conflict in Yemen and U.S. pressure on Iran also escalate tensions in the Middle East, with implications for regional stability and international energy markets.
The episode also covers the impact of U.S. economic sanctions on Iran, the shutdown of the Saudi petroline due to attacks, and the broader humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
